EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 157 



This was double the ration which the Spajiish shepherds calculated. * * * Some 

 of the sheep appeared to have so voracious an appetite that it was deemed expedient 

 to limit the quantity of forage, for fear of their injuring themselves. A few which 

 would not eat Indian corn, probably because their teeth had become loose, were de- 

 barked very weak, and others much fatigued. All soon recovered, by being per- 

 mitted to feed freely in hilly pastures in the day, and put under cover at night, until 

 they could be gradually accustomed to remain altogether in the field without danger 

 to their health. To habituate them to the climate I considered one of the most im- 

 portant operations. If a first experiment of a seasonable project fails of success, it 

 haves many more difficulties to be encountered and obstacles to be surmounted in 

 all future essays of a similar kind than if the attempt had never been made. 



For this importation, as before stated, Col. Humphreys received a 

 gold medal with the inscription : 



Presented by the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture to the Hon. 

 David Humphreys, esq., late minister to the court of Madrid, as a testimony of re- 

 spect for his patriotic exertions in importing into New England 100 of the Merino 

 breed of sheep from Spain to improve the breed of that useful animal in his own 

 country, 1802. 



At the request of the Massachusetts society Col. Humphreys gave a 

 statement of the circumstances surrounding this importation, and, 

 after a description of the voyage just quoted, proceeds at some length 

 with an argument for their propagation in the United States, which 

 follows in part and which was printed quite generally in the newspapers 

 of the day : 



In the Eastern and Middle States all the circumstances encourage practical farm- 

 ers to increase and improve their breed of sheep. All kinds of soil except marshy, 

 and of air except humid, are friendly to it. This breed, like most or all others, 

 thrive best in uplands and short pastures, but it is reputed to be so singularly hardy 

 as to endure rain, snow, and cold as well as any northern race, and to support itself 

 in parched southern climates by feeding on weeds and vegetables which most others 

 would not taste. Without entering into the detail of enriching the land on which 

 they graze or are folded, by their manure, especially where a rotation of crops is 

 systematically pursued, I should not omit to mention it has been asserted that a 

 moderate-sized farm, for example 100 acres, skillfully manured, may be made to 

 maintain 100 sheep and, moreover, to produce as much in crops as it would have 

 done had it been employed only in cultivation and not charged with their nourish- 

 ment. For accomplishing this it would undoubtedly be indispensable to have a 

 competent share of knowledge of animal and vegetable nature. From all the in- 

 quiries which I have been able to make since my return to America I have been ex- 

 tremely mortified to find that the breeding of sheep has been much neglected for 

 some time past. It is but too evident a vital impulse is wanted to give new vigor 

 to it, and I can not but regret that it is not permitted, in the compass of a letter, to 

 dwell more at large on the means as well as to oifer, in a more alluring manner, the 

 motives for restoring that valuable race of animals, which seems to have been be- 

 stowed by Heaven more peculiarly for the use and comfort of man than any other, 

 from its present state of decadence. If the limits would allow it to be done, it is 

 believed the discussion would produce proof, approaching to demonstration, that no 

 other branch of farming could be carried on in the Eastern and Middle States with 

 so much advantage to the public or profit to the individuals concerned as the raising 

 of sheep. The soil and climate being favorable, the quantity of nutriment and 

 number of stock might be rapidly increased with a little exertion, even to such a 

 degree as to furnish, in a few years, a great proportion of the wool necessary for our 

 clothing. The process is easy and sure and does not require an uncommon share of 



